Communication Sciences and Disorders, Ph.D.

Program Overview

Communication Sciences and Disorders, Ph.D.

Arnold School of Public Health

Prepare for your academic career in the science of human communication and its disorders. Under the direction of a mentor, you'll participate in laboratory activities while pursuing scholarly research.

Designed for full-time students, our doctoral program combines direct mentorship and scientific experimentation in laboratories while preparing you with curriculum development skills and providing experience in classroom teaching. There are pathways for nationally certified American Speech-Language-Hearing Association students and other disciplines.

Program Highlights

• In-Demand Work
  • Meet an ever-increasing demand in the communication sciences and disorders field due to a faculty shortage.
• Authentic Experiences
  • Receive mentoring by world-class researchers, secure funding and publish in peer-reviewed publications.
• Dual Preparation
  • Gain experiences in the areas of both research and teaching, allowing you to be competitive in faculty searches.
• Assistance Available
  • Research assistantships are available for qualified applicants from a wide range of disciplines.

What You’ll Study

Enter the program following a bachelor's or master's degree. Academic coursework consists of statistics and experimental design, speech and hearing science, and a concentration area of your choice. Completion of the program includes written and oral examinations plus the successful defense of a dissertation of original scientific data.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

• Leadership
  • Inspiring and guiding others to achieve common goals and reach their full potential
• Project Management
  • Organizing and overseeing tasks to achieve specific goals
• Initiative
  • Taking action and demonstrating leadership without being prompted or directed by others
• Teaching
  • Foster learning by conveying knowledge, skills and concepts to students
• Data Analysis
  • Examining and interpreting information to uncover insights and inform decision making
• Research
  • Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

• Teacher
• Researcher

Job Titles of Alumni

• Assistant Professor
• Senior Medical Writer
• Speech Language Pathologist

Workplace Settings

• Education
• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Private Industry Research and Development
• Life Sciences

Employers of Alumni

• MedThink SciCom
• Midland Regional Rehabilitation Hospital
• UNC Health Care

"My time spent working clinically and on several multidisciplinary teams has molded my experiences in this field, and I have incorporated this knowledge into my doctoral research."

Ellie Cooper

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program prepares students for academic careers in the science of human communication and its disorders. It is designed for full-time students and combines direct mentorship, scientific experimentation in laboratories, curriculum development skills, and classroom teaching experience. The program caters to both nationally certified American Speech-Language-Hearing Association students and those from other disciplines.

Key Program Highlights:

• High Demand: Addresses the growing need for professionals in the field due to a faculty shortage.
• Authentic Experiences: Offers mentorship from world-class researchers, opportunities for securing funding, and publishing in peer-reviewed publications.
• Dual Preparation: Equips students with both research and teaching skills, making them competitive for faculty positions.
• Research Assistantships: Available for qualified applicants from various disciplines.

Assessment:

The program culminates in written and oral examinations, followed by the successful defense of a dissertation based on original scientific data.

Teaching:

• Mentorship: Students receive direct mentorship from faculty.
• Laboratory Activities: The program emphasizes hands-on experience through laboratory activities.
• Curriculum Development: Students gain skills in developing curriculum.
• Classroom Teaching: The program provides opportunities for classroom teaching experience.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: Teacher, Researcher
• Job Titles of Alumni: Assistant Professor, Senior Medical Writer, Speech Language Pathologist
• Workplace Settings: Education, Hospitals, Clinics, Private Industry Research and Development, Life Sciences
• Building Skills: The program emphasizes the development of professional and personal skills, including leadership, project management, initiative, teaching, data analysis, and research.
• Related Degrees: The program highlights related degree options, including Psychology, Biostatistics, Biological Sciences, Social Work, Environmental Health Sciences, Medicine, Physical Therapy, Anthropology, and Counselor Education.
• University of South Carolina: The program emphasizes the overall benefits of studying at the University of South Carolina, including award-winning academics, globally modeled student life, and abundant study abroad and experiential learning options.